BOPLAN® SAFETY SOLUTIONS ON THE TOUR OF FLANDERS

The country will come to a standstill on Sunday 4 April. With the Tour of Flanders, the second of the absolute top five cycling classics (Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Lombardy) is on the agenda next Sunday. “Flanders Most Beautiful” is the climax of the cycling season!

At the start in Antwerp, the world top of global cycling jostles to descend at a fast pace to the Flemish Ardennes. The rapid succession of the many (cobblestone) slopes and the legendary passages over the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg makes the Tour of Flanders one of the most spectacular and exciting cycling events of the year!

And for a world-class cycling race like this, safety is paramount. That is why the organization partners with BOPLAN® to secure critical points on the course. BOPLAN® RACE TOTEMs are used to remotely signal potential dangers such as refuge islands and road narrows. The BOPLAN® RACE BARRIERs secure the finish area.

BOPLAN® RACE BARRIER: SAFETY BARRIER FOR THE FINISH AREA

The BOPLAN® RACE BARRIER is specially designed for the protection of the finish area of cycling races. These yellow polymer barriers of 1m40 high provide optimal protection for both riders and spectators during one of the most critical phases of the race. The 70° angle of inclination ensures that spectators are kept at a “selfie-safe” distance from the riders' lane. The safety fences can be seamlessly connected with a tongue and groove connection and have a continuous, recessed advertising space. The legs are collapsible and specially provided openings ensure problem-free transport with a forklift.

The most important properties of the BOPLAN® RACE BARRIER at a glance:

• made entirely of impact-absorbing polymer
• height of 140 cm in combination with 70° angled position ensures a safe distance from the audience
• seamless connection by means of tongue and groove system
• easy to link together
• recessed advertising space
• can be weighted for optimal stability
• folding legs
• stackable and easy to use
• special recesses for forklift transport

BOPLAN® RACE TOTEM: NEXT-LEVEL COLLISION PROTECTION FOR CYCLING RACES

The BOPLAN® RACE TOTEM can be used at potentially dangerous places in the course where clear signage is required: at pedestrian refuge islands, speed bumps, junctions, pinch points, narrowings of carriageways, dangerous obstacles such as road signs and posts, street furniture, etc. Deployment of race marshals in these areas is often inadequate and even dangerous, with possibly serious consequences such as bodily injury to participants and employees.

The BOPLAN® RACE TOTEM is designed to warn participants of an obstacle in time. In the event of an impact, the energy-absorbing polymer ensures much less risk of injury.

• high signalling value due to:
  • large size (H 240 x W 120 x D 90 cm)
  • striking yellow color
  • sound signal up to 92 dB
• direction indication for the riders on which side to pass
• made of impact-absorbing polymer
• curved design reduces risk of injury in the event of a collision
• can be weighted for optimal stability
• easy and quick to install
• equipped with a GPS tracking system

BOPLAN® RACE BUMPER: QUICKLY DEPLOYABLE COLLISION PROTECTION ALONG THE RACE COURSE

The BOPLAN® RACE BUMPERs can be used quickly and easily in cycling races. They are extremely suitable for protecting the riders against all kinds of posts and other street furniture on and along the course.

• Impact absorbing
  If a participant in a sports competition hits the BOPLAN® RACE BUMPER, the force of the impact will be significantly reduced, avoiding serious injuries.
• Quick installation
  Obstacles are easily secured with the BOPLAN® RACE BUMPER. The bumper is installed and removed in the blink of an eye!
• Sustainable
  The RACE BUMPERs last a long time and are virtually maintenance free. You can use them for multiple races and easily stock them afterwards. In addition, they are 100% recyclable.
• Weather resistant
  Just like the participants, our safety products continue to perform in all weather conditions!

This year, numerous organizers have already called on BOPLAN® security solutions. Cycling fans saw the BOPLAN® RACE BUMPERs, RACE TOTEMs and RACE BARRIERS emerge during the GP Oetingen, Danilith Nokere Koerse, Bredene Koksijde Classic, OxyClean Brugge-De Panne, E3 SaxoBank Classic, Gent-Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen. Numerous other important competitions are still on the program.

Partnerships were made with Flanders Classics (organizer of the Tour of Flanders, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem, Scheldeprijs, De Brabantse Pijl and co-organizer of the World Cup), City Mountainbike (organizer of the UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup and the UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championships) and Isomundo (organizer of the UCI Paracycling Road World Cup in Ostend, among others).

Are you an organizer of a cycling race? Contact us without obligation for information about how we can increase the safety during your event. Together we make the race safer!